For the first time indoor concert percussion has been added to the Norman North fine arts program. This will be the first time that the percussion section performs in competition without movement and any other sections of the band or color guard.
The piece they’re performing is called “Modern Fusion” which they plan to bring to competition in February 2024.
“It’s about the fusion of different styles of music, there’s music from the Middle East, African drums, jazz music. It’s a lot of different rhythms from around the world all fused together.” said Percussion Ensemble Director Preston Rattlif
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Many of the percussion students are looking forward to this first year.
“It’s really interesting, like considering where we have been in previous years, we really haven’t done much. So this is like a big step of where we’ve been.” Said Sophomore Blake Anderson
The differences in sounds and rhythms makes playing this piece more difficult than previous selections.
“The classification we’re in isn’t super competitive but, it will be interesting to see how we hold our own in this capacity.” said Ratliff
The organization they’re competing with is formally known as Winter Guard and Percussion of Oklahoma (WGPO). While there are many classifications, NNHS in is Scholastic Regional Concert. With only three other schools.
“We haven’t had the opportunity to compete in anything before so I’m excited for this positive change.” said Senior Talmage Gosney
At these competitions, they start from the lowest skill level and go all the way to the hardest skill level. To be able to be reclassified you have to perform certain skills.
Their first competition will be Feb. 24 at Putnam City High School.
Students competing with WGPO are Sophomore Marimba player Blake Anderson, Freshman Rack player Caleb Badayos, Junior Bass player Jorge Bassasoacta, Freshman Vibraphone Player Peyton Blumenthal, Sophomore Vibraphone player Freya Bost, Freshman Vibraphone player Lauran, Copeland, Senior Drummer Talmage Gosney(Tag), Freshman glockenspiel player Isaac Kreft, Senior Chimes player Nathan Marmaduke, Freshman Rack player Cameron Martin, Sophomore synthesizer player Hannah Powers, Junior Vibraphone player Caitlyn Russ, Freshman Marimba player Charlie Sandersfeld, Junior Marimba player Kolten Sneed, Freshman Rack player Grayson Vidrine, Senior xylophone player Jack Walters, Freshman Rack player Matthew White, Senior Rack player Brian Willson, and Freshman synthesizer player Ben Woods.
This article was updated Jan.10 2024 at 4:40 pm to clarify that the percussionists will be competing in concert percussion, and to correct an error stating that marching band was the only platform for percussionists to perform at the school.
